The DirectX® 8.0a SDK contains
the tools needed to build cutting-edge applications and includes the
run-time, headers and libs, sample executables, sample source,
documentation, DirectX utilities, and support for both C++ and Visual
Basic® development. This SDK release also contains the DirectX 8.0a
runtime release. DirectX 8.0a runtime contains updates for issues with
international installs on Windows 2000 and issues where input devices
could have buttons disabled that were enabled with previous DirectX
releases. There are no other changes.

NOTE: DirectX 8.0 has been updated to include
fixes for international installs on Windows 2000 and regressions in
DirectInput. This updated release is DirectX 8.0a. The updates only affect
the DirectX 8.0 Redist and Runtimes contained within the SDK. If you have
already downloaded the DirectX 8.0 SDK, it is important that (at a
minimum) you update your install with the new Redist. You can find the
DirectX 8.0a Redist only download with the DirectX 8.0 Partial SDK
Downloads. To avoid complications, do not release the Redist contained in
the DirectX 8.0 SDK, use the DirectX 8.0a Redist. If you'd rather update
your entire SDK install you can do so here.